There are three different types of cockroaches active in our area. The Turkestan roach lives primarily outside in the shrubbery and other moist, dark areas, the German roach is typically found indoors, and the American Sewer roach is found in sewer systems. 

By far, the most effective way to avoid the possibility of roach infestation in and outside your home is to contract with a private pest control company. The Town of Queen Creek contracts with a provider that periodically sprays its manholes with a paint that contains pesticides. In addition, the Town has its own maintenance program of dusting its manholes with a powdered insecticide. The combination of these efforts produce the most effective form of roach control. 

Helpful Hints to Control Sewer Roaches
All pests are drawn to food and water and eliminating these sources is the first step towards a pest-free home.  In addition, make sure that all drains in your home are used at least once per week. Regular use maintains a water barrier in the P-trap (the U-shaped pipe underneath each sink and fixture) and prevents vapors and pests from entering the line between your home and the main sewer system. If you are experiencing a problem of this nature, you should pour one cup of household bleach down each drain of your home. Doing this will flush out any standing water within your sewer pipes and make the water in the P-traps undrinkable for any pests that may be using the sinks and drains as a water hole.

If you feel there is still a problem with sewer roaches in your area and would like someone to contact you, please fill out a service request form.

Good Rules of Thumb for Indoor/Outdoor Roaches

• Don't let them in. A cockroach can fit into a space as thin as quarter, maybe smaller. Make sure door jams are tight fitting. Keep window and door screens in good repair. Consider installing screens over floor drains, vents and duct work. Fill holes where pipes disappear into the walls with some type of silicon sealant. Seal along the foundation of your home as well as baseboards, windows and doors or anywhere there's a crack.
• Eliminate their food source. Store food in sealed containers. Clean-up spills and crumbs right away. Keep pet food dishes off the floor. Wash dirty dishes right away. Don't leave them laying in the sink with food one them. Keep the stove and oven free of grease and food. Empty trash cans often and make sure they have tight-fitting lids.
• Roaches like to hide. Move clutter away from outside walls. Do not leave boxes and other stored items lying on your garage or storage room floor.  Store items on shelves whenever possible. Do not pile newspapers, magazines or boxes against any wall. Move stockpiles of wood or bricks to the furthest corner of your lot if possible.
• Roaches love water more than food. Fix leaking faucets. Prevent the pooling of water from your air conditioning unit's condensation. Empty containers outside that may collect water during a rainstorm. Prevent overwatering inside as well as outside. Soggy soil is a tempting attraction to a roach.